Crews responded to the fire at the Sergeantsville Inn on Rosemont Ringoes Road in Delaware Township at about 2 a.m. Flames were seen coming out the front doorof the 300-year-old restaurant, according to a post on the Sergeantsville Volunteer Fire Company's Facebook page.

"This is the center of our town," Delaware Township Mayor Roger Locandro told NBC 4 New York. "This is the place where senators and assembly people come. This is a place where people celebrate their birthdays or anniversaries -- their life events."

Cleanup of the fire has caused Route 523 to be closed in both directions through Delaware Township at Route 604.

The Inn's website says the structure was built in the early 1700sas a private residence and became a restaurant in the early 1900s. It has had several renovations and additions but retained the original building, which has served as a grain and feed store, grocery store, ice cream parlor, and a pelt trading center.